Acknowledgments
We dedicate this book first to our wives (Sandy and Peggy), who allowed us to spend the enormous amount of time, research, and effort that made this book possible. Second, we acknowledge our respective families and friends who offered encouragement and constructive feedbackâwith special thanks to our brothers in ChristâScott, Mike, Mark, and Garyâat our weekly Saturday morning breakfast Bible Study. Their encouragement and constructive critiques and suggestions were invaluable to our writing and editing process along the way.
Finally, this book is also a tribute to Michelle, Scottâs wife and longtime friend of Dan and Peggy. Michelle was an inspiring Bible study leader whom the Lord took to her heavenly home far too soon for those of us she left behind. It was through her group that we authors even met. Her group continues to meet as part of her legacy, and sheâs forever with us in spirit.
Another part of her legacy is this book itself. If not for the inspiring way she, Scott, and their family dealt with her impending passing, and since then, the fire between the two of us to research and write this book might never have been lit. And finally, we thank our divine Creator who answered our constant prayers for guidance and to those historians and scholars, both Biblical and secular, who had the insight and answers we sought. Dozens are referenced inside.
Our book is intended for a broad range of readers. We provide believers with straightforward, no-nonsense, down-to-earth answers to questions they have themselves, or for those who ask such questions of them. For those with doubts about whether God even exists, much less Scripture, His inspired Word, we offer an objective look at all the evidence, history, and scholarly work in support of Scripture and suggest they ask themselves one question when finished:
âIs my continued disbelief because I still canât believe or that I still just donât want to believe?â
Regardless of their reasons, those who remain doubtful are always in our prayers. May the Holy Spirit one day light their hearts to realize Scripture is, indeed, the inspired Word of God and such an accurate account that for all the world, believers or not, history itself pivots from BC (before Christ) to AD (anno Domini) Latin for âYear of the Lord.â No one else who ever lived had such impact.
All of us will have eternal life. Our only choice is where weâll spend it.
Introduction
Skeptics, agnostics, and determined atheists pose many challenging questions concerning religion in general and Christianity in particular. For example, how can it be proven without any doubt whatsoever that God absolutely exists? Given that some people say not even God can create something out of nothing, just how did God create everything in the universe? How can the Holy Bible be reliable and the divine Word of God? Can it be verified with absolute certainty that Jesus was for real, really rose from the dead, and is the Son of God? The list of challenges goes on and on. They arenât new. Theyâve been presented for millenniaâsome out of a genuine search for truth, and some based on nonbelief of Christian creed, including a preference for Darwinâs theory of evolution.
It is reasonable for any nonbeliever to ask such questions. Everyone either wants to see proof or at least has some level of interest in whether there is proof to the truth.
This book answers the most challenging questions most often raised by those who doubt or who do not believe in the Christian doctrine. The book is intended for two groups of readers: those who are skeptical or doubtful or who do not believe and those who do believe but are interested in the answers to the same questions.
There are solid, convincing answers for any such questions, no matter how challenging they are. All this said, the most relevant and important questions at this point are the following:
- Is one who is doubtful, distrustful, or who outright denies the Christian faith willing to learn and at least contemplate the explanations to the answers to these and related questions?
- Or, is he or she content to neglect them?
- If one is satisfied to not even consider them, then why would one not be concerned about the very real consequences of ignoring them or being wrong?
- What if eternal life isnât optional and your only critical choice in this life is where youâll spend it?
This book addresses the toughest questions from Genesis to Revelation. But to start, the most demanding and perplexing questions often come from those who allege Christianity itself is not only fallible but largely based on fiction. Some of the challenges against Christianity may appear to be valid, based on what is alleged to be compelling evidence of scientific and historical error throughout the Bible. Skeptics and other nonbelievers also cite what they believe to be numerous contradictions, discrepancies, and inconsistencies within Scripture itself.
Other critics cite Biblical references that appear to accept questionable practices contrary to moral values and standards among Christians and non-Christians alike today. Then there are all those inconceivable events nothing short of miraculous and thus deemed impossible to be believed by those who donât believe in miracles.
These all beg the question, âHow can believers accept all of Scripture as trustworthy and truly the inspired Word of God if it contains so much alleged error that it draws into question the basic foundation of Christianity itselfâthat Jesus was the Son of God, died for our sins, rose from the dead, and that no one can enter heaven except through faith in Him as personal Lord and Savior?â
In this book every single one of these questions is not only analyzed, but also the answers are explained with both clarification and resolution. It shows that all the alleged contradictions or apparent inconsistencies are rooted in inapplicable or incongruous interpretation of what Scripture actually says in its historical context. Or it results from the failure to read and understand related text that resolves alleged contradiction or inconsistency.
In other words, this book will show respectfully, but resolutely, there is a bona fide and substantiated explanation and answer for every single question herein.
Regarding the numerous events that just seem to be too incredible to believe, many can be shown to be possible without defying natural and scientific law. Many others can be shown to be the result of divine direction of these laws by their Creator God. Others cannot be proven to be impossible. Miracles that did defy natural and scientific law always had so many eyewitnesses they could not be dismissed nor explained. They were nothing less than the awesome display of the power of God by those who lived through it and faithfully recorded it in Scripture.
Finally, some of the questions can be answered by thinking outside the box. Scripture actually anticipated those who would doubt or deny it. It plainly states in several places that much of its truth seems âfoolishâ to those who rebel against it because it is âspiritually discerned.â
In this book it is shown that God is the true author of the Bible, as He was the divine inspiration that resulted in the works of all its authors. The entire Bible is the Word of God, no matter what each personâs opinions are. Itâs not a buffet where we can pick and choose what we want to believe and reject what we donât. After all, Jesus clearly believed it. As stated in the New Testament:
Jesus answered, âIt is written: âMan shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.ââ (Matthew 4:4)
The most challenging of topics and questions regarding Christianity are addressed herein, but they are intended to be simple, plain, direct, down-to-earth interesting discussions. There is no need for any formal theological or even philosophical education. All one needs is the intellectual honesty to consider this compendium of evidence both inside and outside the Bible itself that supports every event recorded in it. This also includes the prophecies that all came true hundreds and even thousands of years after first uttered by the prophets.
There are numerous arti...
